Lower Parel ROB to remain shut from July 24
MUMBAI: Commuters, brace for traffic woes from July 24 as the traffic police is set to restrict vehicular and pedestrian movement on the 62.72-m Delisle road over bridge (ROB) at Lower Parel – one of the busiest business hubs in the city.
The western railway (WR) has asked the civic body and the traffic police to shut the ROB “immediately” as it found the bridge, which is 23.20m wide, unsafe during its joint safety audit on July 17, conducted with Iitbombay after the July 3 Andheri bridge mishap. No vehicular traffic or pedestrians will be allowed.
According to WR, the cross girders of the ROB are highly corroded. “This ROB was constructed in 1921 and according to the inspection report, the cross girders over the tracks need to be replaced,’’ said Ravinder Bhakar, chief public relations officer (PRO), WR.
“After a detailed technical inspection of the Lower Parel ROB, it has been recommended that in view of safety, the said bridge be closed and dismantled as soon as possible,” said a city traffic police spokesperson.
The traffic police decided to divert traffic on this bridge via Senapati Bapat Marg and NM Joshi Marg. For east-west journey from Lower Parel, motorists will have to use either Elphinstone Road ROB or Mahalaxmi ROB.
Closure of the ROB for vehicles is likely to cause traffic snarls in Lower Parel and neighbouring Curry Road, Elphinstone Road, Worli and other areas.
WR also invited expression of interest from structural engineers and consultants for rebuilding the Lower Parel ROB in the shortest time possible.
In the latest letter to the civic chief, WR’S divisional railway manager also requested that the reconstruction of this ROB may be executed by the civic body as is being done in the case of Hancock Bridge, near Sandhurst Road, on central railway.
Devendra Kumar Jain, assistant commissioner from G-south ward, under whose jurisdiction this bridge falls said, “We received a letter from the Railways and forwarded it to the civic bridges department.”
An official from the bridges department said they have replied to WR’S letter saying the repair work can start. WR has also asked the civic body to reconstruct or repair its six Robs between Churchgate and Dadar section, including the Delisle ROB. The list includes Ferere ROB at Grant Road, Belasis ROB at Mumbai Central, Tilak ROB at Dadar, Carol ROB at Prabhadevi and the ROB at Mahalaxmi.